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LONDON: Falkland Islanders will be asked specifically whether they want the archipelago to retain it status as a British overseas territory in a referendum on Mar 10 and 11, its government announced.

Confirming the date and the final wording of the question, the referendum is intended at sending Argentina an unambiguous verdict from the 3,000-odd islanders, amid tension between London and Buenos Aires over sovereignty.

Britain has held the South Atlantic Ocean islands since 1833 but Buenos Aires claims they are occupied Argentinian territory.

“The result will demonstrate in a clear, democratic and incontestable way how the people of the Falkland Islands wish to live their lives,” the islands' government said in a statement.

“To that end, the Falkland Islands government has consulted widely to identify a credible, international and independent observer mission to observe the referendum in order to clearly demonstrate that it has been held freely and fairly.”

The referendum question will read: “Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom?

“YES or NO”.

The ballot paper will also be accompanied by a pre-amble.

“The current political status of the Falkland Islands is that they are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom,” it reads.

“The islands are internally self-governing, with the United Kingdom being responsible for matters including defence and foreign affairs.”

“Under the Falkland Islands constitution the people of the Falkland Islands have the right to self-determination, which they can exercise at any time.

“Given that Argentina is calling for negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, this referendum is being undertaken to consult the people regarding their views on the political status of the Falkland Islands.

“Should the majority of votes cast be against the current status, the Falkland Islands government will undertake necessary consultation and preparatory work in order to conduct a further referendum on alternative options.”

A four-page booklet has also been issued explaining the referendum and what the vote means.

Diplomatic friction between Argentina and Britain has intensified since 2010, when London authorised oil prospecting in the waters around the islands.

On April 2, 1982, the then ruling junta in Argentina invaded the Falklands, sparking a 74-day war with Britain which cost the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British troops.

Britain has around 1,000 military personnel on the Falklands to ensure their security.

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper claimed last weekend that British defence officials had prepared plans for dealing with aggressive action by Argentina towards the islands in the event of a “yes” vote.

Military chiefs have drawn up proposals for the deployment of extra troops, another warship and additional jets ahead of the referendum, the broadsheet said.

Comments (4) Closed

Fuad

Jan 20, 2013 08:23pm

Nonsense, do you realise that the inhabitants of the Falklands
are descendents of people who were 'imported' from mainland
UK after the island was annexed by the Brits from the
Argentinians. Can the Brits tell the word as to what happened
to the indegeneous people of the island who had lived there
since times immemorial?

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BritBob

Jan 20, 2013 11:49am

The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory. The 3,000 islanders do not wish to become part of Argentina just like the Canary Islanders do not wish to become part of Morocco.

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Jay

Jan 21, 2013 12:56am

Another nightmare created by the imperialists. Malvinas belong to viva Argentina , like goa belongs to India. Hong Kong to china

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La patria

Jan 21, 2013 05:06am

Please check your history- Britain were the first on the islands and were removed by the french. There were no natives there. Argentina, as a country, has never had control of the islands. It has however taken land from neighbouring countries e.g. Paraguay and massacred most of its own indigenous people. Why not start practicing what they preach before trying to seize land that doesn't belong to them